Larry Perlin

Town director cites staff shortage for leaving job

By Gloria I. Wang

After 10 months of 50-hour work weeks and a growing sense of frustration with his job, Larry Perlin recently resigned from his position as Los Gatos Director of Parks and Public Works.

Perlin cited conflicting priorities and the chance to pursue other opportunities as reasons for his resignation. He will, however, work in the parks and public works department on a contractual basis until the beginning of June. In the meantime, former interim Town Manager Les White will serve the as interim director of parks and public works.

Perlin submitted his letter of resignation to the town in March; his last day at work as parks and public works director was April 6. He had been on the job for almost a year.

"I felt that the job that I was in wasn't working out for me--it just wasn't a good match," Perlin said. Perlin says his primary interests are in the town's capital projects and engineering work. But because of his managerial role, he spent the majority of his time doing administrative work. In his position, "all you've been able to do is stay current with what's come across your desk," Perlin said.

A contributing factor to Perlin's stress load is the fact that the town is currently short-staffed, with a high turnover rate. "There's so damned much going on that I just can't get away," Perlin said.

Perlin says that those things combined led to 50 to 55-hour work weeks--leaving very little time to spend at home in Santa Cruz with his wife and two small daughters.

After working in local government for 18 years, Perlin says that he is ready to move on. "Maybe the time is right to consider a change," he said.

For the time being, Perlin is still employed by the town as an interim town engineer. He will go to work only when needed and work on certain specific projects. "He is really critical in a number of projects," Assistant Town Manager Jim Piper said.

Piper says that, while the town will begin a recruitment process soon, there is a possibility that Perlin's contract will be extended when June rolls around.

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